Openbank appoints Christopher Oster as new General Manager for Germany

Openbank, the 100% digital bank of Santander Group, has announced the  appointment of Christopher Oster as the new General Manager of its German branch.  Oster will leverage his extensive expertise in digital financial services and corporate  leadership to strengthen Openbank’s presence in Germany and accelerate its growth  in a highly competitive market. He will report directly to Petri Nikkilä, Global CEO of  Openbank. 

A seasoned innovator in the digital sector, Oster founded Clark Holding SE in 2015,  one of Europe’s largest insurance distribution platforms. Prior to Clark, Oster served  as COO of Wimdu GmbH, a digital vacation rental platform, for five years. He also  worked as a consultant at The Boston Consulting Group, contributing to banking  sector projects in Germany, the Middle East, and Australia. His deep understanding  of the financial sector and expertise in digital customer management will be crucial  in shaping Openbank’s strategy in Germany. 

Petri Nikkilä, Global CEO of Openbank, commented: “Germany is a key market for the  bank with significant growth potential. We are delighted to have Christopher Oster  on board, whose expertise in customer-centric solutions and innovative digital  services will help us expand our offerings and create substantial value for our  customers.” 

Christopher Oster, General Manager of Openbank Germany, added: “I am very excited  about this new role. Openbank’s digital transformation and ambitious growth plans  provide an exciting environment where I can contribute my experience and drive  further expansion in Germany together with the team.” 

Strengthening market presence  

With a reinforced leadership team, the introduction of a German IBAN in January, and  the planned expansion of its product and service portfolio throughout the year,  Openbank is well-positioned to advance its growth strategy. 

Openbank manages over €19 billion in deposits in Europe and is backed by the  Santander Group, one of the world’s largest financial institutions. In addition to its  local IBAN and lending services, the bank offers an attractive digital banking model,  featuring free checking and savings accounts—among the most competitive in  Germany—as well as investment and savings products.